While a special version of the foil was developed for practice, another type of sword was created for duelling. The blade had a triangular cross-section, with slightly concave sides to reduce weight without reducing strength.  The colichemarde evolved into the modern epee. 

In epee the entire body is considered a valid target. Points can be scored simultaneously by both fencers, meaning timing and tactics are an essential part of an épéeist’s repertoire.

Historical Context

While a special version of the court sword, the foil, was developed for practice, another type of sword, the colichemarde, was created for duelling. The blade had a triangular cross-section, with slightly concave sides to reduce weight without reducing strength and the forte was grooved to allow the blood to drain away (and to make it easier to remove the sword from the body!).

As the epee evolved, the idea was to develop epee fencing in a manner that reproduced as closely as possible the conditions of an actual duel to first blood. As a result, in epee the entire body is considered a valid target and there is no priority rule: anything goes (almost).

Epee fencers score a point by hitting their opponent first. If the fencers hit each other within 1/25th of a second, both receive a point – this is commonly referred to as a double touch.
The lack of right-of-way combined with a full-body target naturally makes epee a game of careful strategy and patience – wild, rash attacks are quickly punished with solid counter-attacks. So, rather than attacking outright, epeeists often spend several minutes probing their opponent’s defences and manoeuvring for distance before risking an attack. Others may choose to stay on the defensive throughout the entire bout. As an epee watcher you also need to have patience.